Cross-member for a motor vehicle front end module, and a front end module and a cooling module support provided

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a cross-member to be found in the proximity of a bodywork part capable of moving towards the cross-member, said cross-member being fitted with an inertia part and a stabilization part for geometrically stabilizing the inertia part. The stabilization part is longitudinally subdivided into a first portion located beside the bodywork part, and a second portion located remote from the bodywork part. The first and second portions are designed in such a manner that in the event of the bodywork part being subjected to a force equivalent to an impact against a pedestrian, said part can move towards second portion while deforming the inertia part and the first portion, without the second portion deforming. The invention also provides a front end module including such a cross-member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No.10/915,731.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cross-member for a motor vehiclefront end module, and to a front end module and a cooling module supportprovided with such a cross-member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the state of the art, a cross-member is already known that isdesigned to be located close to a bodywork part that is liable to movetoward the cross-member in the event of being subjected to a forceequivalent to an impact with a pedestrian, said cross-member beingprovided with a part providing inertia and with a part providinggeometrical stability.

Such a cross-member is placed beneath a hood, with connection elementsserving to leave an empty space between the cross-member and the hood,so as to allow the hood to move into said empty space in the event of animpact against the hood.

In order to leave an empty space, it is necessary to reduce the heightof the cross-member, thereby reducing its inertia.

In addition, obtaining such an empty space leads the front end moduleand the connection elements being more complicated to assemble, sincethe connection elements cannot be pre-mounted on the front end module soas to be brought to the vehicle together with the front end module.

In addition, because of the empty space, the connection elements arenecessarily non-standard since they must include specific devicesenabling them simultaneously to perform their own function and torelease a determined stroke in the event of an impact against apedestrian, in order specifically to limit the deceleration suffered bythe pedestrian.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A particular object of the invention is to remedy those drawbacks byproviding a cross-member having sufficient inertia and being suitablefor enabling the hood to travel over a stroke during an impact againstthe hood, but without an empty space being provided for this purpose.

To this end, the invention provides a cross-member designed to belocated in the proximity of a bodywork part capable of moving towardsthe cross-member, said cross-member being provided with an inertia partand with a stabilization part for geometrically stabilizing the inertiapart, wherein the stabilization part is longitudinally subdivided into afirst portion located beside the bodywork part, and a second portionlocated remote from the bodywork part, the first and second portionsbeing designed in such a manner that in the event of the bodywork partbeing subjected to a force equivalent to an impact against a pedestrian,said part can move towards second portion while deforming the inertiapart and the first portion, without the second portion deforming.

Thus, a cross-member of the invention can allow a travel stroke for thehood in the event of an impact against the hood, and can do so withoutreducing the inertia of the cross-member.

According to advantageous other characteristics of the invention, whichcan be taken singly or in combination:

-   -   the inertia part occupies the full height of the stabilization        part;    -   the inertia part is provided with a C-shaped section or with a        S-shaped section;    -   the inertia part is provided with openings in register with the        first portion;    -   the first portion is provided with ribs arranged to buckle in        response to impacts that are directed downwardly when the        cross-member is mounted on the vehicle;    -   the first portion is provided with ribs arranged to buckle in        response to impacts that are directed rearwardly when the        cross-member is mounted on the vehicle;    -   the ribs do not present any lateral cohesion with the inertia        part, so as to enable them to buckle in the event of an impact;    -   the second portion is provided with stiffening ribs;    -   the inertia part is a metal section member;    -   the inertia part is made of plastics material;    -   the stiffening ribs are made of plastics material;    -   the cross member includes connection means for connecting the        cross-member to the bodywork part;    -   the connection means comprise abutments against which the        bodywork part can come to bear;    -   the connection means comprise a hook suitable for holding the        bodywork part close to the cross-member;    -   the hook is fastened to the inertia part in register with its        second portion;    -   the connection means comprise a lock for catching the bodywork        part, and arranged on the first portion of the inertia part;    -   the cross member includes, in its top portion, a connection area        for receiving a bumper or a grille, said connection area being        suitable for transmitting forces equivalent to an impact against        a hip;    -   the cross member includes, in its top portion, a hood gasket;    -   an element requiring a high degree of stiffness, for example a        sensor, is arranged on the bottom portion of the cross-member;    -   the hook is longer than a standard hook; and    -   the cross member is designed to be arranged on a motor vehicle        front end module.

The invention also provides a motor vehicle front end module including across-member as described above.

Finally, the invention provides a cooling module support for a motorvehicle, including such a cross-member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood on reading the followingdescription given purely by way of example and made with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cross-member constituting anembodiment of the invention, as seen from the outside;

FIG. 2 is a view analogous to FIG. 1 showing the cross-member as seenfrom the inside;

FIG. 3 is a view of the inside of a front end module fitted with such across-member; and

FIG. 4 is a detail of FIG. 3 showing means for bolting the cross-memberto a fender backing member.

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The cross-member shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is designated by overallreference 10. It is designed to be located close to a bodywork part (notshown) that is liable to move towards the cross-member. By way ofexample, the bodywork part may be a front hood of a motor vehicle.

The cross-member is provided with an inertia part 12 and a stabilizationpart 14 providing geometrical stability to said inertia part 12.

More precisely, the inertia part 12 comprises a wall 16 that is vertical(in the orientation of the drawing) and two flanges 18 and 20 that aresubstantially horizontal (in the orientation of the drawing) extendingperpendicularly to the vertical wall 16, in the longitudinal directionof the cross-member 10. The inertia part 12 is thus provided with aC-shaped section, however in another embodiment that is not shown, itssection could be S-shaped.

In its top portion, the inertia part includes a connection area 13 forreceiving a bumper or a grille. This connection area 13 is liable totransmit forces equivalent to an impact against the hip of a pedestrian.

In its top portion, the inertia part optionally also includes a hoodsealing gasket (not shown).

In order to provide good inertia, the inertia part 12 occupies all ofthe space normally available for a cross-member. To do this, the inertiapart 12 occupies the full height of the stabilization part 14.

In general, the inertia part 12 is a metal section member, however, itis possible to envisage making the inertia part 12 out of plasticsmaterial, or indeed out of composite material.

The stabilization part 14 is subdivided longitudinally into a firstportion 14 a located beside the bodywork part, and a second portion 14 blocated remote from the bodywork part.

These two portions 14 a and 14 b define first and second portions 10 aand 10 b of the cross-member 10.

The portions 14 a and 14 b are designed in such a manner that in theevent of the head being subjected to a force equivalent to an impactagainst a pedestrian, then the hood is capable, without the secondportion 14 b deforming, of moving towards said second portion 14 b whiledeforming the inertia part 12 and the first portion 14 a. Nevertheless,the inertia part 12 and the first portion 14 a are dimensioned so as tobe capable of deforming in their elastic range only, providing the forceapplied to the hood is below a certain threshold, for example the forcethat arises when the hood is slammed shut.

The first portion 14 a and the first portion 10 a of the cross-memberare capable of deforming without putting up strong resistance to theforce equivalent to a pedestrian impact, whereas the second portion 14b, and the second portion 10 b of the cross-member, are of rigidstructure so as to protect the structure in the event of a large force,e.g. in an accident situation.

This difference in behavior between the top and bottom portions 10 a and10 b of the cross-member 10 is due in particular to ribs 22 as describedbelow.

The ribs 22 are general made of plastics material and they aresubdivided into two groups, 22 a and 22 b, a top group 22 a and a bottomgroup 22 b.

The ribs 22 a of the top group extend vertically (in the orientation ofthe drawing), i.e. perpendicularly to the flanges 18 and 20, andperpendicularly to the vertical wall 16 of the inertia part 12.

The top 10 a and bottom 10 b portions of the cross-member are separatedby a plane 24 integrally molded with the ribs 22 and disposedsubstantially parallel to the edge 18 of the inertia part 12.

This plane 24 supports the ribs 22 a of the top group via its top face,and the ribs 22 b of the bottom group via its bottom face.

The ribs 22 are made by being overmolded onto the inertia part 12 andthey adhere to the inside face of said inertia part 12. Nevertheless, byway of exception, the ribs 22 a of the top group do not join thevertical wall 16, and consequently they are connected to the inertiapart 12 only via their top edges which adhere to the inside face of thetop flange 18.

As a result, the ribs 22 a of the top group present very little inertiain the vertical direction, so vertical compression applied to thesupport leads to its top portion being flattened, with the ribs 22 abuckling easily without being retained by the vertical wall 16 of theinertia part 12.

In other words, the ribs 22 a of the top group do not oppose resistanceto deformation of the top portion 10 a of the cross-member in the eventof an impact against the head of a pedestrian.

These ribs 22 a as organized in this way can even buckle in the event ofrearwardly-directed impacts, e.g. in the event of an impact against ahip in a rearwardly-sloping direction.

It should also be observed that the inertia part 12 is provided withopenings in register with the first portion 14 a of the stabilizationpart. These openings 26 serve to reduce stiffness of the inertia part 12along a vertical axis in this top portion 10 a so as to make it easierto deform in the event of vertical compression.

The ribs 22 b of the bottom group are arranged in a honeycomb, slopingrelative to the bottom edge 20 of the inertia part 12 and to theseparation plane 24, and crossing one another. Their edges are securedto the bottom portion 10 b of the inertia part 12, i.e. the bottom edge20 and the bottom portion of the vertical wall 16, and also to theseparation plane 24 between the two groups of ribs.

In another embodiment (not shown), the ribs 22 b can be arranged in aV-shaped configuration.

Arranged and held in an array in this way, the ribs 22 b of the bottomgroup constitute a structure that is suitable for withstanding theforces given in traditional specifications for front end modules.

In addition, the bottom portion of the inertia part 12, having noopenings, is more rigid than the top portion of the inertia part 12 anddoes not deform during compression.

The bottom portion is thus suitable for receiving elements that requiregood stiffness, and in particular for receiving various sensors.

Furthermore, the cross-member 10 includes means for connection with thehood. Abutments 28 against which the hood can come to bear are arrangedon the top flange 18 of the inertia part 12. The hood is suitable forbeing held close to the cross-member 10 by means of a hook 30 which isfastened to the second portion 10 b of the inertia part 12 by fasteners32. It is necessary for the hook to be fixed to the rigid portion of thecross-member so that the cross-member can satisfy structuralspecifications that require, amongst other things, that the hook 30 canwithstand hood pulling test. The hook 30 as fastened in this way to thebottom portion of the inertia part is necessarily longer than a standardhook.

The connection means further include a lock 33 for catching the bodyworkpart.

In the embodiment described, the cross-member 10 is designed to bearranged on a front end module 34, as can be seen in FIG. 3.

The cross-member 10 also includes means 36 for bolting the secondportion 14 b onto a motor vehicle fender backing member 38.

Naturally, the embodiment described above is not limiting in any way andcan be modified in any desirable manner without thereby going beyond theambit of the invention.

1. A cross-member for a vehicle designed to be located proximate to abodywork part capable of moving towards the cross-member, thecross-member comprising an inertia part and a stabilization part forgeometrically stabilizing the inertia part, wherein: a) thestabilization part is longitudinally subdivided into a first portionlocated beside the bodywork part, and a second portion located remotefrom the bodywork part, the first and second portions being designed insuch a manner that in the event of the bodywork part being subjected toa force equivalent to an impact against a pedestrian, the bodywork partcan move towards the second portion while deforming the inertia part andthe first portion, without the second portion deforming, and b) thefirst portion including ribs that are arranged to buckle in response toimpacts that are directed downwardly when the cross-member is mounted onthe vehicle.
 2. A cross-member according to claim 1, wherein thestabilization part has a height and the inertia part occupies the fullheight of the stabilization part.
 3. A cross-member according to claim1, wherein the inertia part comprises a C-shaped section.
 4. Across-member according to claim 1, wherein the inertia part is providedwith openings in register with the first portion.
 5. A cross-memberaccording to claim 1, wherein the ribs are arranged to buckle inresponse to impacts that are directed rearwardly when the cross-memberis mounted on the vehicle.
 6. A cross-member according to claim 1,wherein the ribs do not present any lateral cohesion with the inertiapart, so as to enable them to buckle in the event of the impact.
 7. Across-member according to claim 1, wherein the second portion formsstiffening ribs.
 8. A cross-member according to claim 1, wherein theinertia part consists essentially of a metal section member.
 9. Across-member according to claim 1, wherein the inertia part consistsessentially of plastic.
 10. A cross-member according to claim 1, whereinthe ribs consists essentially of plastic.
 11. A cross-member accordingto claim 1, including a connector able to connect the cross-member tothe bodywork part of the vehicle.
 12. A cross-member according to claim11, wherein the connector comprises abutments against which the bodyworkpart can come to bear.
 13. A cross-member according to claim 11, whereinthe connector comprises a hook suitable for holding the bodywork partclose to the cross-member.
 14. A cross-member according to claim 13,wherein the hook is fastened to the inertia part in register with thesecond portion.
 15. A cross-member according to claim 11, wherein theconnector comprises a lock for catching the bodywork part, and arrangedon the first portion.
 16. A cross-member according to claim 1, whereinthe cross-member includes a top portion having a connection area forreceiving the bodywork part, the connection area being suitable fortransmitting forces equivalent to an impact against a hip.
 17. Across-member according to claim 1, wherein the cross-member includes atop portion having a hood gasket.
 18. A cross-member according to claim1, wherein the inertia part includes a bottom portion, and an elementrequiring a high degree of stiffness is arranged on the bottom portionof the cross-member.
 19. A cross-member according to claim 1, designedto be arranged on a motor vehicle front end module.
 20. A motor vehiclefront end module, including a cross-member located proximate to abodywork part capable of moving towards the cross-member, thecross-member comprising an inertia part and a stabilization part forgeometrically stabilizing the inertia part, wherein: a) thestabilization part is longitudinally subdivided into a first portionlocated beside the bodywork part, and a second portion located remotefrom the bodywork part, the first and second portions being designed insuch a manner that in the event of the bodywork part being subjected toa force equivalent to an impact against a pedestrian, the bodywork partcan move towards second portion while deforming the inertia part and thefirst portion, without the second portion deforming, and b) the firstportion includes ribs that are arranged to buckle in response to impactsthat are directed downwardly when the cross-member is mounted on avehicle.
 21. A motor vehicle cooling module support, including across-member located proximate to a bodywork part capable of movingtowards the cross-member, the cross-member comprising an inertia partand a stabilization part for geometrically stabilizing the inertia part,wherein: a) the stabilization part is longitudinally subdivided into afirst portion located beside the bodywork part, and a second portionlocated remote from the bodywork part, the first and second portionsbeing designed in such a manner that in the event of the bodywork partbeing subjected to a force equivalent to an impact against a pedestrian,the bodywork part can move towards second portion while deforming theinertia part and the first portion, without the second portiondeforming, and b) the first portion includes ribs that are arranged tobuckle in response to impacts that are directed downwardly when thecross-member is mounted on a vehicle.